'Britain's Trump': Corbyn attacks Johnson as he makes election pitch

Jeremy Corbyn has accused Boris Johnson of being "Britain's Trump, the fake populist and phoney outsider" as he urged voters to back Labour if a snap general election is called in the autumn.

Your browser doesn't recognise available video formats.

The Labour leader said a national poll will provide a "once-in-a-generation chance" for a change of direction of politics on the scale of 1945 or 1979, when Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher won the keys to Number 10, respectively.

He warned the country is facing a Brexit "crisis" and vowed to do "everything necessary" to prevent a no-deal exit from the European Union.

Mr Corbyn said: "While Brexit is the framework of the crisis we face, the problems facing our country run much deeper.

"A general election triggered by the Tory Brexit crisis will be a crossroads for our country.

"It will be a once-in-a-generation chance for a real change of direction, potentially on the scale of 1945 or 1979. Things cannot go on as they were before."

He added: "However the Brexit crisis is resolved, the country faces a fundamental choice.

"Labour offers the real change of direction the country needs: a radical programme to rebuild and transform communities and public services, invest in the green jobs and high tech industries of the future, and take action to tackle inequality and climate crisis.

"The Tories have lurched to the hard right under Boris Johnson, Britain's Trump, the fake populist and phoney outsider, funded by the hedge funds and bankers, committed to protecting the vested interests of the richest and the elites, while posing as anti-establishment."

Mr Corbyn went on to say: "Labour believes the decision on how to resolve the Brexit crisis must go back to the people.

"And if there is a general election this autumn, Labour would commit to holding a public vote, to give voters the final say, with credible options for both sides, including the option to remain."

The fight over Britain's anticipated departure from the EU has intensified over August, as some MPs plot how to thwart any bid by Mr Johnson to take Britain out of the EU "do or die" on Halloween.

Mr Corbyn's election pitch - in a speech in Corby, Northamptonshire - comes amid growing speculation of an election in the coming months.

It also follows his direct appeal to the leaders of other political parties and senior backbenchers from across parliament last week to oust Mr Johnson in a vote of no confidence and install him as "temporary" prime minister to block a no-deal Brexit and form a government of national unity.

The SNP and Plaid Cymru have suggested they could support Mr Corbyn's idea, while a number of Conservative MPs opposed to no-deal have indicated they would hold talks with him.

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, who initially rejected the idea, has since said she would be willing to hold talks with Mr Corbyn - but has reiterated her belief that someone else must lead an emergency government if Prime Minister Johnson is removed from office.

Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly said: "Jeremy Corbyn has done all he can to frustrate delivering on the referendum result.

"This is a cynical attempt to seize power by a man who would wreck the economy, is soft on crime and won't stand up for Britain. All Jeremy Corbyn offers is more dither and delay.

"Only Boris Johnson and the Conservatives can provide the leadership Britain needs and deliver Brexit by October 31, whatever happens."

:: Analysis: Corbyn is in election mode - but he needs to get there first

By Sam Coates, deputy political editor

Jeremy Corbyn finally started to mimic what Boris Johnson has been doing for weeks - campaigning for a general election.

As he told Labour activists in the target seat of Corby today, nobody knows when polling day will be.

However, by arguing that the next time Britain goes to the polls it will be as momentous a point in election history as any seen since 1945, he was hoping to transcend the arguments about no-deal Brexit.

In order to do this he road-tested key campaign themes, some old, some new.

There were pledges to raise spending on the NHS, tax the rich, abolish tuition fees and raise the living wage.

His moniker for Boris Johnson as "Britain's Donald Trump" went down well with the activists in the Corby Community Centre. Mr Corbyn looked like he is bedding down for a lengthy campaign.

However, first he has to get there. The purpose of the speech was to analyse how he will stop a no-deal Brexit.

Since the middle of last week he has been trying, but struggling, to convince a majority of MPs, including some from outside the Labour Party, to install him as "caretaker" prime minister for a short period to stop a no-deal Brexit, then trigger a general election.

However, there was little further detail on how this might work.

Instead he simply threw down the gauntlet, piling on the pressure by declaring "if MPs are serious" (about stopping no deal) "they will vote down this reckless government".

He even declined to echo the pledge from his own shadow chancellor to campaign for remain in a future referendum.

This clearly won't be enough for those, including Labour defectors, who believe Mr Corbyn should never be given the responsibility that comes with inhabiting Number 10.

Labour is likely to support other efforts in parallel to pass legislation to forbid a no-deal Brexit, in case the plan to oust Mr Johnson doesn't work.

Bluntly, with competing strategies and goals, Mr Johnson's opponents currently do not look like they have the upper hand.

No wonder the prime minister feels confident enough to fly to Berlin and Paris this week to declare his opponents will fail.

Download the app

Follow Us

Your privacy is important to us. We want to better help you understand how and why we use your data.
You’ll continue to enjoy Capital FM and all of its great content and features! View our Privacy Statement for more details.